- A wildfire forced 55,000 more people to evacuate overnight, bringing the total to 220,000 as flames approached Bordeaux. Authorities in Gironde ordered evacuations for five more localities and cited gusting winds accelerating the fire.
- In Spain, firefighters are working to prevent two blazes near Madrid from merging, while French authorities ordered evacuations in Gironde with around 30 fires burning and thousands of personnel deployed.
- International aid: Germany’s leader announced aid for French regions, and teams from Greece, Italy and Portugal are helping fight the blazes in Spain.
- Officials warned of difficult hours: France’s prime minister said the coming hours “may be difficult”, and Spain’s interior minister said “the night is not going to be easy” due to unfavorable weather.
- The evacuation in France is the largest since World War II, according to officials. One evacuee, Christophe, helped elderly neighbors gather belongings and medication after being woken by an emergency alert.
A wildfire in southwest France has forced the evacuation of 55,000 people overnight, bringing the total to 220,000 as flames threaten the city of Bordeaux. The Gironde region has seen new evacuation orders due to gusting winds that have accelerated the fire's spread, which has been burning since midweek.123
In addition to France, over 250,000 residents across the region have been forced to evacuate, with at least one death reported in Valencia, Spain. Firefighters in Spain are working to prevent two fires near Madrid from merging, while French authorities are battling around 30 simultaneous fires in the southwest.
The situation has led to a massive sheltering effort, with around 7,000 people currently housed in an exhibition center in Bordeaux, which is enveloped in smoke. Germany has pledged aid to the affected French regions, and teams from Greece, Italy, and Portugal are assisting in firefighting efforts.
France's Prime Minister has warned that the coming hours may be challenging, echoing concerns from Spain's interior minister about worsening conditions. Local residents, like Christophe, have shared their experiences of the evacuation, highlighting the urgency and chaos as they helped neighbors prepare to leave.67
As Europe faces increasing temperatures, the impact on local agriculture is also a concern, with tour guide Nicolle Croft noting the potential for
“The 55,000 new evacuees bring the total displaced to 220,000 as flames creep closer to Bordeaux, the largest evacuation in France since World War II. International teams from Germany, Greece, Italy, and Portugal have deployed to help, while officials warn that weather conditions will make the night 'not easy'.”
